Gallery
MURRAYSBURG NEWS - Service delivery protests have turned violent in Murraysburg on Wednesday morning as community members are piling up at the police station lay charges against municipal workers who allegedly attacked protesters with sharp objects.
Murraysburg residents have shut down the local municipal offices and schools in a bid to get the Beaufort West municipality to attend to the community’s outcry for service delivery.
These angry residents also burned tyres and placed rocks along the main road that gives access into town.
This comes after activists in this community have presented memorandums to the municipality, asking for interventions.
A community activist, Wellington Hugo said their pleas are falling on deaf ears.
He said municipality has been a no-show since 2011 and that the community is tired of waiting.
He said some funds were made available by the Western Cape government to implement projects in Murraysburg, “but the Beaufort West municipality always seem to find another way to spend our town’s money,” said Hugo.
“The already destitute are getting poorer by the day with no glimpse of hope in sight.”
Hugo said the town is in dire need of service delivery and projects that can provide employment.
“We also refuse to pay such ridiculous amounts of money for just a few units of electricity. This municipality is milking our people and it is not fair.”
Hugo said the municipality is failing the constitutional mandate to deliver effective and quality services to the Murraysburg community.
The Murraysburg police are monitoring the protest. Photos: Supplied
“We as the community of Murraysburg have been consistently demanding a community meeting with the council and the executive members to address the current challenges that we face as the community.”
A memorandum of grievances was handed over to the municipality on 26 July, but the community is still waiting on a response, said Hugo.
He said the Murraysburg do not want to shut down the town, but they have to get the decision makers to come to the table.
A community activist, Wellington Hugo said their pleas are falling on deaf ears.
“We are demanding our own municipality. The Beaufort West municipality cannot take care of us.”
The spokesperson for the Beaufort West Municipality Marlene Hendricks said they are aware of protests in Murraysburg and denied claims of a lack of service delivery.
“There has never been a problem with service delivery. Murraysburg has sent a petition to the council, which is now being handled at the council meeting. We will also talk to the community about the petition on Friday,” said Hendricks.
'We bring you the latest Murraysburg, Karoo news'
